FRESH FM TOP NEWS THIS WEEK

The hottest and most trending news articles for this week in all categories are captured in one shot. Find articles ranging from News to Sports, to Politics, to Entertainment, to Economy, to Metro plus, and many other categories. See below the top news for the week:

NEWS

• Lekan Balogun Crowned 42nd Olubadan Of Ibadan Land

Oba Mohood Olalekan Ishola Balogun Alli has been crowned as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan land. The official installation of the paramount ruler of Ibadan land held on Friday at the Mapo Hall in the Oyo State capital. The new Olubadan, adorned with a white crown and wine traditional attire popularly known as ‘Aso Oke’, ascended the throne in grand style to usher in a new dispensation in the town.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, presented the staff of office to Oba Balogun, now Okumade II, in the presence of prominent traditional and religious leaders from various parts of the country, as well as hundreds of residents of the state.

Some of the prominent traditional rulers physically present at the coronation were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi; the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, among others.
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were also among the political leaders who graced the occasion.

Oba Balogun ascended the throne to succeed the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, whose reign lasted almost six years.
The late monarch who was crowned on March 4, 2016, died two months ago at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. He was aged 93 years old. Following his death, Oba Balogun emerged as the next Olubadan, but not after a controversy over who would succeed Oba Adetunji.

• Insecurity: Femi Adesina fumes, says ‘Nigerians’ not encouraging Buhari

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said ‘some people’ are not encouraging President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to secure Nigeria, revive the economy, and fight insecurity. The President’s spokesperson also accused the Nigerian media of paying less attention to the achievements of Buhari, particularly those bordering on wins against insecurity.

Adesina made the allegations in an article titled, ‘The story that didn’t hug the headlines’, and shared on his official Facebook page on Thursday. He noted that rather than showcase Buhari’s achievements on same topic, his traducers prefer to critise him openly and look away when he deserves some credits.

Making reference to the Global Terrorism Index 2022 report released last week by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) where Nigeria recorded the second-biggest reduction in deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, Adesina noted that both the Nigerian media and Buhari’s critic failed to give the achievements deserving coverage and mention respectively.

Adesina noted that despite gains being recorded in some critical sectors, “the pessimists have not changed their tongues, nor their minds”. When you exhibit loud silence about positive developments in your country, and scream blue murder when there are reversals, you are a hypocrite, a hater of your country, and a hater of all that is good. Sad, dolorous, mournful,” he wrote.

• Aviation Fuel: NCAA May Shut Down Nation’s Airspace

AS the pump price of Jet-A1 otherwise known as aviation fuel, continues to skyrocket, the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu on Thursday alerted the nation that unless something urgent is done to address the current situation in the aviation industry, the agency may be forced to shut down the nation’s airspace for the safety of air travellers. Captain Nuhu disclosed this at a meeting summed by the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Idris Ahmed Wase to find a lasting solution to the aviation fuel crisis. 

This came just as the House directed the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority to do everything possible to dismantle the cartel growing in the industry that had jacked up the prices of aviation fuel to its current price of N670 per litre from its usual price of N190 and the non availability of the product.  However, the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, Ogbogu Ukoha, insisted that there was enough jet A1 in the country to last for 34 days. 

While speaking at a meeting, the NCAA boss who expressed surprise at the sudden increase in the price of Jet A1, said the safety of passengers was key to his mandate, pointing out that with the way things were going currently, he might be forced to shut down some airline and by extension, the airspace to ensure safety. 

• Scarcity of aviation fuel over soon – Kyari, GMD NNPC

The Group Managing Director, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari has given a ray of hope to the lingering scarcity of aviation fuel, saying it will end soon. This came as the Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Musa Shuaibu Nuhu said that airline operations might be forced to shut down due to high airfares. Speaking at a special investigative meeting of the House of Representatives chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase on Thursday on the fuel crisis, Kyari said there was no excuse for the escalating prices.

The GMD however said it was not possible to reduce the price to N200 per litre as the mechanism was controlled by market forces. The meeting was also attended by the House Committees on Petroleum Downstream and Upstream, Jet A1 marketers, and Airline Operators.
Reacting to some concerns of the Parliamentarian on the current crisis in the energy sector despite the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), Kyra allayed the fears of Nigerians, saying the country will never regret enacting such law.

• International Women’s Day: El Rufai flags off N200m disbursements to women

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has flagged off the disbursement of N200 million as part of Kaduna State Women Empowerment Fund (KADSWEF), to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day, making it the third time that his administration will empower the women entrepreneurs. The flag which was witnessed by senior government officials, Women Groups, and Civil Society Organisations as well as the general public, was held at Umar Musa Yar’adua Conference Centre, Kaduna on Tuesday.

The governor reiterated that the fund is meant to support small traders with capital to grow their businesses, noting that women’s economic empowerment increases the quality of lives of their families and improves society. El Rufai argued that “women are the foundation of the society” and the APC government of Kaduna state “really believes in supporting women because when you empower a woman you empower her family and the society. ‘’

• MC Oluomo suspended indefinitely, NURTW insists

The National Union of Road Transport Workers has suspended its Lagos State chapter’s Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, indefinitely. The National Public Relations Officer of the union, Chukwudi Asogwa, confirmed the suspension to our correspondent on the telephone on Thursday. “Yes, it is true. The letter you saw in circulation is from the national headquarters,” he said.

The suspension letter was signed by NURTW’s General Secretary, Kabiru Yau, and dated March 9th, 2022. In the letter, the union leader was suspended over alleged misconduct, insubordination, and inciting members of the state chapter against its national body. With the development, the NURTW directed Akinsanya to hand over to his deputy chairman and release all property belonging to the union in his possession.

The letter read, “This is to convey to you that in line with Article 42 section 5, subsection I, II, III, IV, V, and VIII of the union’s constitution, you have been placed on indefinite suspension from office as State Chairman of Lagos State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with effect from March 9th, 2021.

“Your suspension is sequel to sustained acts of insubordination and gross misconduct coupled with your clandestine plans to instigate crisis and unleash mayhem on any branch or branches of the union in Lagos state that refuses to obey your order or instructions not to accept directives from the national headquarters of the Union.

“Your orchestrated plan to attack branches that may disobey your orders aforesaid will ultimately endanger public peace and order in Lagos state. It is also very likely to threaten and/or affect the lives and property of the peace-loving people of Lagos state, particularly those doing their legitimate businesses within motor parks, hence the urgent need to take drastic actions against him.

“In view of your suspension, you are hereby directed to hand over the mantle of leadership of the Lagos State Council to the State Deputy Chairman and also surrender all Union properties in your possession to the State Secretary of the Union forthwith.”

• Crisis: MC Oluomo, Lagos NURTW break away from national body

National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Council’s chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, has announced the withdrawal of members of the state’s council, including himself, from the national body. He made the announcement at the state secretariat, Agege on Thursday. This is coming a few hours after NURTW headquarters suspended Akinsanya for alleged insubordination.

Oluomo in his address titled, ‘Crisis in NURTW’, MC Oluomo said, “There has been some crisis in our umbrella body, NURTW. All attempts to have an amicable resolution have failed. In fact. we have protested to the Lagos State Government about the State of affairs in our Union. Being law-abiding and responsible citizens, we have decided to explore all avenues for peace in the interest of all, we will not support any action that can threaten the peace that we cherish so much in Lagos State.

“Therefore, I, Comrade Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, on beha|f of the State Administrative Council, State Executive Council members and the entire union rank and file members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Council with over 200 branches and zones hereby resolve to immediately withdraw our membership and operation from the National body of NURTW for peace to reign in Lagos State; write to Lagos State Governor, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and other relevant agencies about our decision. “We hereby call on Lagos State Government to take over the running of the affairs of the Union with the Constitution of a Park Management Committee for Motor Garages and parks in the state, thereby ensuring peace and tranquility, pending the determination of the matter in the interest of the good people of Lagos State.”

• Lagos CP beefs up security across motor parks

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has ordered for security to be beefed up in the state. The directive was given to all area commanders and Divisional Police Officers in the state.
This is following the suspension issued by the National Union of Road Transport Workers to the chairman of its Lagos chapter, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo.

CP Alabi, during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, said a directive for the deployment of operatives to all motor parks across the country had been issued. The police boss said the order was necessary to curb any violence that may arise in the state from the crisis rocking the NURTW.

Urging the area commanders and DPOs to maintain visibility in their area of coverage, CP Alabi assured Lagos residents of adequate security of life and property. MC Oluomo was suspended over alleged misconduct, insubordination, and inciting members of the state chapter against the apex body.

• Gender Bills: Women should not lose hope on their demands – Senate President

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has advised women not to lose hope on their demands for legislations on gender related matters. Lawan spoke in Agasa in Kogi State on Thursday against the backdrop of some gender related bills that recently failed to scale through at the National Assembly in the ongoing review being carried out on the 1999 Constitution. Senate President made a strong case for education of the girl child shortly before he commissioned a 600 capacity JAMB CBT Centre which was facilitated by Senator Yakubu Oseni who is representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.

“I know somebody will say gender bills have failed in the National Assembly. That is democracy. Let’s continue to lobby. We should continue to lobby because nobody will like to undermine anybody. Let’s not lose hope. Every male member in the National Assembly is a “He for She” because I don’t think there is anybody who is not married in the National Assembly.

“We will continue to work together with gender based organisations especially those that genuinely want to engage with members of the National Assembly because if you are not able to get something, if there is a failure, we should make it a political capital that tomorrow, we say, you were not able to do it yesterday, can you do it today. That will help us in ensuring that we get some of these hurdles out of the way. Most of us have our daughters as well. So we know that everybody is one way or the other connected to this struggle but we should not lose hope,” Lawan said.

POLITICS

• 2023: RCCG creates politics directorate to support members vying for political positions

The Redeemed Christian Church of God led by Pastor Enoch Adeboye has created the Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance to engage members willing to be involved in politics and “mobilise support for them when required”. In a memo addressed to all regions, provinces, zones and other levels of the church, the mission said the directorate was created for political education of its members.

The directorate, it was learnt, would also prod members of the church to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2023 general elections. The memo dated February 28, 2022, and titled, ‘Office of Directorate of Politics and Governance’ has the reference number: RCCG/AGO/ADM/AA/MEMO/20/01/2022. It was signed by the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Administration and Personnel, Pastor John Odesola.

RCCG, therefore, asked that its parishes send the details of its nominated coordinators for the office to Odesola within two weeks of receipt of the letter. When contacted by newsmen on Thursday, RCCG Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said the directorate is to sensitise members of the church for active political participation.

• I’ll return as APC chair after medical trip, says Buni in leaked letter

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State intends to return as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress once he returns from his medical leave, his leaked letter to the APC has revealed. The letter dated February 28, 2022, which was obtained by newsmen, was sent to Governor Sani Bello of Niger State and other members of the caretaker committee before his departure. In the letter, Buni willingly transmitted power to Bello.

The letter read in part, “This is to inform you that I will be embarking on a medical trip to the United Arab Emirates from today, February 28, 2022. I will resume office upon my discharge from the hospital. “In my absence, I hereby transmit the functions of my office as the National Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to you. This is to enable the committee to conclude all arrangements leading to the national convention slated for March 26, 2022, and other duties that may be required of the office. I invite all members to cooperate with Governor Abubakar Sani Bello by extending to him all the support that I have enjoyed from you.”

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State had on Wednesday stated that although Buni willingly transmitted power to Bello, they soon discovered that Buni’s committee had no plan of conducting the March 26 convention but was making secret moves to postpone it on the strength of a court injunction. El-Rufai said President Muhammadu Buhari was informed of this and he swiftly ordered that Bello takes over the affairs of the party permanently. The governor said Buni would not return as chairman of the caretaker committee, adding that at least 19 governors are in support of Bello.

• APC Crisis Worsens As INEC Rejects Notice Of Party’s NEC Meeting

The crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new twist after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected the notice for an emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). INEC secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, confirmed the commission’s decision in a letter dated March 9, 2022, and addressed to the party’s ‘national chairman’. The letter was in response to the request by the party in an earlier letter marked APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/022/32 and dated March 8, 2022.

Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, who recently took over the leadership of the party, reportedly signed the letter. He had requested the commission’s presence at an emergency meeting of the APC NEC ahead of the party’s forthcoming national convention.

But INEC, in its response, rejected the invitation, stressing that the national chairman and secretary of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) ought to have signed the letter. It added that the Electoral Act required that the electoral umpired must be given at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting for such purpose.

• Electoral bill: Malami, Amaechi barred from primaries, Senate rejects Buhari’s request

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; and other political appointees believed to interested in elective offices will not be able to participate in the All Progressives Congress primaries expected to begin in May unless they resign. This is the state of things following the rejection of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by the Senate on Wednesday. However, elected officers including governors, deputy governors, the Vice-President and members of the National Assembly and the state legislature will be allowed to contest and participate in the primaries.

President Muhammadu Buhari, while signing the bill into law last month, called on the National Assembly to amend Section 84 of the Electoral Act which bars political appointees from voting at any convention, congress or primary of any political party. He subsequently sent a bill to the National Assembly to that effect.
Section 84(10) of the Act specifically reads, “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.” It further states that where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of this Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate for election shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue.

Buhari had subsequently asked the National Assembly to amend the bill, arguing that it was at variance with the constitution. But the Senate, on Wednesday, unanimously rejected the President’s amendment proposal. The executive bill failed to pass when President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, put the motion for its adoption for second reading to a voice vote.

The National Assembly has been divided over the ruling by a Federal High Court, Abuja, stopping Buhari; Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation and the parliament from tampering with the Electoral Act 2022. The Senate had insisted on going ahead to consider the request by President General Muhammadu Buhari who asked the federal parliament to delete Section 84(14) of the new electoral law but the House of Representatives said it would obey the court.

• NBA Slams Umahi, Describes Response To Court Order As Executive Rascality

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has slammed Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi for refusing to obey a court order which has asked him to vacate office as governor of the state. NBA President, Olumide Akpata, in a statement on Wednesday, described Umahi’s response as “impunity of the highest order and executive rascality taken too far.” Akpata said Umahi is expected to have called for calm from his supporters and assured them that all legal and constitutional avenues would be explored to challenge the judgment but instead gave such a response.

Mr Akpata said the NBA has absolutely no interest in the outcome of the case in question and will continue to stay away from partisan politics. The NBA, therefore, demand an immediate apology from the governor and a retraction of the comments he made against the person and Judgment of the Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court.

• Umahi Appeals Court Order Sacking Him And His Deputy

Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi has appealed the Federal High Court judgement which ordered the removal of him and his deputy, Eric Igwe, from office. According to a notice appeal filed in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/920/2021 on Wednesday and obtained by Channels Television, Umahi, and his deputy stated that the Federal High Court erred in his ruling and they, therefore, disagreed with the entire judgment which ordered their sack for defecting to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). They listed eight grounds of appeal against the lower court’s judgment.

In the appeal document, Umahi and his deputy argued that the trial court was virtually setting aside the Supreme Court’s decision in the case involving the Attorney General of the Federation and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to the effect that there is no constitutional provisions prohibiting president or vice and invariably the governor and or deputy governor from defecting to another political party.

They averred that the trial court erred in law when it relied on sections 68 and 109 of the constitution in holding that, having defected from the PDP to the APC, he offended the provisions of the constitution and must vacate his office. They further submitted that there is no provision in the constitution that states that a governor or deputy governor will vacate his office if he defects from his political party to another political party. They, therefore, asked the appellate court to set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court.

ECONOMY

• Why Food Prices May Rise In 2022 —AFAN

ALL Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Oyo State chapter, has expressed fears that prices of food may rise in 2022, given the exorbitant prices of farming inputs. Chairman of AFAN in the state, Mr John Olateru, expressed the fears in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday. Olateru, who stated that farmers were gearing up for the 2022 planting season, however, decried the cost of inputs, saying that this might affect the operations of farmers and the prices of their outputs. 

“Prices of chemicals are now more than triple of what they used to be; the same for fertilisers, while land preparation has gone from N5,000 to between N12,000 and N15,000 per hectare,” he said. Olateru said that the cost of farming inputs and other associated factors might drive up the cost of food. “The cost of cultivating farmlands has gone out of control, and this will affect the prices of the items that will be planted,” he said. He also lamented what he called cumbersome procedures of accessing exchange rate by farmers and sometimes, non-availability of foreign exchange for importing farming inputs. 

On climate change, Olateru said on the side of farmers, going back to the farm was looking good, with favourable weather forecast, unlike what was obtained in 2021. “It looks like the weather will favour us this year. I can see NIMET encouraging farmers to start planting now, unlike what was obtained last year.” According to him, farming has become a profitable venture, compared with other aspects of agriculture, particularly livestock, which is now running at a loss.

• FG seeks US funding for Nigeria’s natural gas development

With European countries facing gas supply challenges due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has urged the USA government to support the funding of natural gas development in Nigeria as an alternative source of energy to Europe.

Chief Sylva who spoke during a meeting with the US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, on the side-line of the ongoing Ceraweek, in Houston Texas said the collaboration between the US and Nigeria in this area would be of immense benefits to both countries as well as the entire globe.

A statement by the Senior Adviser (Media & Communications) to Minister of State Petroleum Resource, Horatius Egua, on Wednesday, quoted Chief Sylva as saying that “It is in the interests of the global community that there is an alternative supply of gas to Europe. The challenge for us to achieve this feat has been lack of infrastructure and we need funding to develop infrastructure for our gas and we believe that the US can provide that funding”.

The Minister told Granholm that Nigeria has an abundance of natural gas resources that can meet European gas demands nothing that the problem has been accessing to funding. The minister said the crisis between Russia and Ukraine was a wake-up call to have alternative sources of gas to Europe stressing that in “situations like this, it is always good to have an alternative. It is time to say let’s look forward”.

HEALTH

• COVID-19: FG to set up committees on local vaccine production

The Federal Government on Friday said it would set up two committees to work out modalities for the local production of COVID-19 vaccines in the country. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Jos on Friday after he and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, led a delegation to the National Veterinary Research Institute in Jos, Plateau State, to inspect facilities at the institute.

Ehanire, who expressed satisfaction with the state of the facilities at the NVRI, said given the progress of work done so far at the research institute, Nigeria would soon join the comity of nations producing COVID-19 vaccines. The Director-General, National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, also said that Nigeria was ready for COVID-19 production.

Adeyeye, who noted that human vaccines needed a lot of guards and control insisted that “NAFDAC is ready. If NAFDAC is not ready, then Nigeria is not ready. We will collaborate with all the stakeholders to ensure that we produce the vaccine in the country and I believe it is doable with collaboration.”

• Sign Mental Health Bill into law, psychiatrist tells FG

A Professor of Psychiatry, Taiwo Sheikh, has appealed to the Federal Government to sign the Mental Health Bill into law to promote the well-being of Nigerians. Sheikh, an immediate past President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Friday.

“Signing the mental health bill into law will help in the repositioning of the health sector to meet emerging challenges,” Sheik said. He added that it would also, generally, enhance the mental health and well-being of all Nigerians, as well as help achieve a stable mental health status for the country if the bill became law.

The psychiatrist noted that the bill, which had passed its first and second reading, as well as the public hearing stage, was currently awaiting the signature of President Muhammadu Buhari to become a law.
Sheik also said that the 1916 Lunacy Law copied from the English Laws was still the basis of mental health and psychiatric practice in Nigeria. He described the 1916 Lunacy Law as archaic, regressive and not all-compassing by modern terms.

• Agency identifies three drugs to combat Lassa fever

The National Biotechnology Development Agency has identified three repurposed drugs suitable for mitigating the spread and effect of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Speaking in Abuja at a meeting titled, “Drug Repurposing and Repositioning: Challenges and Opportunities for Lassa Fever Treatment,” the Director-General, NABDA, Abdullahi Mustapha, said the move was the agency’s contribution to mitigating the Lassa fever pandemic.

Mustapha said the repurposed drugs had been certified by the food and drug administration and would still be subjected to the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders for approval. Nash said, “These identified drugs are already in the market for other purposes but we have repurposed them, we have already seen that it is going to work”.

“This is good news coming from NABDA. So we have called various stakeholders here to know the dose for use.” He assured Nigerians that with the deployment of the repurposed drugs, the harmful effects of Lassa fever across the country would be addressed.

EDUCATION

• JAMB insists it will not extend 2022 UTME/DE registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says ongoing 2022 UTME/DE registration exercise scheduled to end on 26th March, will not be extended. The board disclosed this in a statement by its head of Public Relations, Dr Fabian Benjamin in Abuja on Thursday. Benjamin said the time scheduled for the registration exercise from Feb. 19 to March 26, was the only window allotted by relevant authorities to the board to conduct the exercise.

He said that registration and examination dates were not fixed arbitrarily but through a consensus of opinions of the Federal Ministry of Education and examination agencies. He added that before the commencement of registration or examination for any given year, all public examinations bodies were invited to a roundtable where they were expected to agree on the timetable of activities for each examination agency and which must be strictly adhered to.

He added that the announcement became necessary because of the drop in the number of candidates coming forward to register in spite of the capacity of the Board to register more daily.‘By this announcement, the board is urging prospective candidates who desire to register for the 2022/23 UTME/DE to come out to register as they have only two weeks to do so as no extension would be granted after the close of registration.

• WAEC marks 70th anniversary with lectures, awards

As the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) marks its 70th anniversry next week, the Council will be holding lectures and awards in Abuja as Nigeria hosts other member states during the Council meeting in Abuja.

Head of WAEC Nigeria National Office, Mr. Patrick Areghan said at a that the programme holding March 14-18 would feature the 27th Endowment Fund lecture by Prof. Ngozi Osarenren.

Osarenren of the Educational Foundation Department, University of Lagos would speak on the topic: “Assessing the Assessor: Looking back and looking forward” at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

WORLD

• EU Calls Russian Bombing Of Ukraine Maternity Hospital ‘War Crime’

Top European Union officials on Thursday condemned Russia’s bombing of a maternity hospital in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol as a “war crime”. “Mariupol is under siege. Russia’s shelling of (a) maternity hospital is a heinous war crime,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote in a tweet. Strikes of residential areas from the air and blocks of access of aid convoys by the Russian forces must immediately stop. Safe passage is needed, now,” he added.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen called the attack “inhumane, cruel and tragic”. “I am convinced that this can be a war crime. We need a full investigation,” she tweeted. The children’s and maternity hospital in Mariupol was attacked on Wednesday in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a Russian “war crime”, and which sparked global outrage.

Local officials said Thursday that at least three people were killed in the bombing, including a young girl. Video shared from the site by rescue workers showed a scene of complete devastation, with the wounded being evacuated, some on stretchers, past charred and burning cars and a massive crater by the building. Russia’s foreign ministry did not deny the attack but accused Ukrainian “nationalist battalions” of using the hospital to set up firing positions after moving out staff and patients.

• Mariupol Maternity Hospital Third To Be Destroyed In Ukraine – UN

The United Nations’ reproductive health agency announced Thursday that two other Ukrainian maternity hospitals had been attacked and destroyed before Russia’s strike on a facility in the southeastern city of Mariupol on Wednesday. The hospital in Mariupol is “not the only one” that has fallen under assault, said Jaime Nadal, the Ukraine lead for the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). “In Zhytomyr, the maternity (hospital) was completely destroyed. In Saltivsky, the maternity (hospital) was also destroyed,” he noted, speaking via videoconference with journalists in New York.

The UN official did not specify who launched the attacks on the other hospitals or if there were any victims. “There are 300 hospitals and 69 maternities, perinatal centers” in Ukraine, he said, noting that his agency estimates “over the next three months about 80,000 women will be giving birth” in the country. According to Nadal, Ukraine currently has around 240,000 women who are pregnant, and over 4,300 women have already given birth in the time between Russia’s invasion on February 24 through March 7.

In Mariupol, the bombing of the maternity hospital resulted in three deaths, including one child, according to the city’s mayor. An earlier tally by Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday said 17 people were injured. The attack on the hospital was harshly condemned by Ukraine and Western nations.

• Biden Announces US Ban On Russian Vodka, Diamonds, Seafood

US President Joe Biden announced a ban Friday on Russian seafood, vodka and diamonds, as Washington tightened sanctions against the Kremlin over its invasion of Ukraine. The ban targets goods from “several signature sectors of the Russian economy,” Biden said in a speech at the White House.

• Biden Warns Direct NATO-Russia Clash Would Trigger ‘World War III’

President Joe Biden again ruled out any direct intervention by the United States to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Friday, warning that such conflict pitting the NATO alliance against the Kremlin “is World War III.” “We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine,” Biden said in a speech at the White House, refuting increasingly desperate calls from Kyiv for NATO to intervene against the Russian assault.

• At Least 71 Children Killed In Ukraine Invasion – Parliament Official

At least 71 children have been killed in Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a war on February 24, a Ukrainian parliament official said on Thursday. “From the start of the Russian invasion and up to 11:00 am (0900 GMT) on March 10, 71 children have been killed and more than 100 wounded,” Lyudmyla Denisova, parliament’s point person on human rights, wrote in a Telegram message.

Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday condemned Russia’s bombing of a maternity hospital in Ukraine’s Mariupol and demanded Moscow allow aid into the besieged city. “Russia’s shelling of maternity hospitals is a heinous war crime. Strikes of residential areas from the air and blocks of access of aid convoys by the Russian forces must immediately stop. Safe passage is needed, now,” Borrell wrote in a tweet.

• Russia Accuses US Of Funding Biological Weapons Research In Ukraine

Russia on Thursday accused the United States of funding research into the development of biological weapons in Ukraine, as Moscow stepped up its campaign to gain control of key Ukrainian cities. Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a televised briefing that “the purpose of this — and other Pentagon-funded biological research in Ukraine — was to establish a mechanism for the stealthy spread of deadly pathogens.”

Konashenkov claimed the ministry had obtained documents detailing US military-biological activities in Ukraine, including on the transfer of Ukrainians’ biomaterial abroad. He said Washington “planned to carry out research on a bird, bat, and reptile pathogens”, as well as on African swine fever and anthrax. “Biolaboratories set up and funded in Ukraine have been experimenting with bat coronavirus samples,” Konashenkov added.

Both Washington and Kyiv have denied the existence of laboratories intended to produce biological weapons in the country, which has faced a Russian assault by tens of thousands of troops since February 24. Russia in 2018 accused the United States of secretly carrying out biological experiments in a lab in Georgia, another former Soviet republic, which like Ukraine aims to join NATO and the European Union.

• Ukraine ‘Will Not Surrender’- Foreign Minister

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba repeated his vow that the country “will not surrender” following talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Turkey. “I want to repeat that Ukraine has not surrendered, does not surrender, and will not surrender,” Kuleba told reporters after the meeting.

• India Accidentally Fires Missile Into Pakistan

India’s military accidentally fired a missile into neighbouring Pakistan, New Delhi’s defence ministry said on Friday, calling it “deeply regrettable”. Hindu-majority India and Muslim Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from British colonial rule in 1947, two of them over the disputed territory of Kashmir. Their shared border has a heavy military presence on both sides, and there have been numerous flare-ups between them, with tensions sometimes raising fears of an atomic exchange.

“In the course of a routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile” on Wednesday, India’s defence ministry said. It did not specify the type of missile, but said it landed “in an area of Pakistan”. The incident was “deeply regrettable”, it said, adding that it was “a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident”.

The statement came hours after Islamabad’s foreign ministry condemned what it called an “unprovoked violation of its airspace by an Indian origin ‘super-sonic flying object’”. India’s charge d’affaires in Islamabad had been summoned to the foreign office for a “strong protest”, it added.

ENTERTAINMENT

• Prayers for Afolabi as she reveals struggle with terminal disease

Actress and filmmaker, Kemi Afolabi-Adesipe, is living her life to the fullest despite being diagnosed with lupus, a disease that causes one’s immune system to attack one’s tissues and internal organs. Late last year, the actress revealed that she had written her Will and had paid for a burial space after she was diagnosed with the incurable ailment. Though lupus has no known cure, a health website, Mayo Clinic, states that it can be managed. According to the site, ‘current treatments focus on improving quality of life through controlling symptoms and minimising flare-ups. This begins with lifestyle modifications, including sun protection and diet’.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, the actress revealed that her doctors had told her she has five years to live, out of which one year has passed. She said, “The doctor told me to make sure I spend time with my loved ones because I have about five years left (to live).” In tears, she continued, “I have lupus and it is not curable. One has to be on medication for the rest of one’s life. ‘Biology’ is about N1.2m but it was not working out. I was in pains (broke down in tears again).

However, the grim condition has not stopped the actress from living life on her own terms. During her colleague, Faithia Williams’ birthday party recently, she could be seen dancing excitedly and having a good time. She also looked glamorous as she posed for pictures with the host of the event and other colleagues. During the International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, Afolabi-Adesipe wrote on Instagram, “I live my life and I am happy. We have just one lifetime, sisters.”

• Niger govt boosts tourism, entertainment with new resort

The Governor of Niger State, Sani Bello, has announced that a major financial group has partnered with the state government to boost tourism in the state. According to a statement sent to Merrymakers, the decision of the foreign investor to invest in the Shagunu Beach Resort ‘was the outcome of Governor Bello’s foreign investment drives in recent times’.

Located in the Borgu Local Government Area of the state, the resort has been a major investment centre. The state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chidawa Adamu, stated that the governor was determined to make Shagunu Beach Resort ‘one of the country’s top tourism sites and a destination of first choice’.

In a similar vein, the Lead Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Marcom Support Services Limited, Mr Hakeem Akintunde, stated that it gladdened his heart that the resort had got the attention of a global financial player, noting that for over three years, the state government had embarked on aggressive infrastructural development of communities in the area. He went on to say that the project, which is conceived as a Public-Private Partnership on Build, Operate and Own Model, is aimed at putting the state on the global tourism map while boosting its internally generated revenue.

• IWD: Female artists exhibit works as Nike Art Gallery partners South Korea

Some female artists exhibited their art works at an art event in Abuja on Thursday, March 10, 2022, as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day. The art exhibition with the theme, ‘The Beauty of Nigeria’, was jointly organised by the South Korean Embassy, Nike Art Gallery and the Female Artists Association of Nigeria.

Speaking during the event, the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae, stated that the cultural ties between his country and Nigeria would be strengthened. He added, “This is a collaboration between Nigeria and (South) Korea. While we made our venue available for the exhibition, Nike Art Gallery and FEAAN contributed their works to make the collaboration complete. The purpose of this exhibition is to celebrate the International Day for Women by having partnerships with female Nigerian artists. We also want people to relax and enjoy themselves in our garden.”

On her part, art enthusiast and the proprietor of Nike Art Gallery, Nike Okundaye, admonished participants and guests to always pass on their knowledge and skills to their children for sustainability of culture. Similarly, Dr Ngozi Akande, a past president of FEAAN, thanked the ambassador for the collaboration. She also urged participants to patronise the works of female artists. Also speaking, the Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, noted that there were many avenues for collaboration between South Korea and Nigeria. He said, “We savour this relationship and friendship, and that is why we decided to honour this invitation.

• Adesua Etomi, Daniel Effiong to announce nominees for eighth AMVCAs

On Saturday, March 19, 2022, nominees for the eight edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards will be unveiled in a special broadcast on all Africa Magic channels on DStv and GOtv from 9pm.
Actors, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, and Daniel Etim-Effiong, will announce the nominees in all 33 categories for this edition.

The Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, Dr Busola Tejumola, speaking on the broadcast, said, “We received a good number of quality entries from across the continent for this edition of the AMVCAs and we are pleased to reveal the final shortlist of nominees, which we are confident embody the excellence the awards is renowned for.”

For this edition, Africa Magic announced a new category for ‘Best Online Social Content Creator’ and the return of the ‘Best Africa Magic Original Drama Series’, and ‘Best Africa Magic Original Comedy Series’, bringing the total number of categories to 33. Twelve of those categories will be open to viewers’ votes, while 21 categories will be decided by the AMVCA’s panel of judges headed by veteran filmmaker, Victor Okhai. Other categories include ‘Best Movie in Southern, East and West Africa’, ‘Best Director’, and ‘Best Cinematographer’.

SPORTS

• Chelsea Accounts Suspended As Sanctions Take Hold

Chelsea have had several accounts and credit cards suspended temporarily following sanctions imposed on club owner Roman Abramovich by the UK government, British media reported Friday.
Russian-born billionaire Abramovich had all his British assets frozen on Thursday barring Chelsea, with the Premier League club allowed to continue with “football-related activities”.

But the European champions cannot operate as a business and have been banned from selling match tickets or merchandise. The Independent was one of several British outlets that reported Chelsea had been in discussions with the government in the hope of amending the license and easing the restrictions but were hit on Friday when banks suspended the club’s accounts.

Abramovich, 55, was one of a further seven more oligarchs hit by fresh UK sanctions on Thursday following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

• Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich Hit By UK Sanctions

Chelsea Football Club’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich was on Thursday hit with a UK assets freeze and travel ban, throwing his plans to sell the European and world club champions into disarray.
The billionaire owner of the English Premier League side was one of seven oligarchs slapped with restrictions over Russia’s Ukraine invasion, including his former business partner Oleg Deripaska.

Others sanctioned were Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin, whom the British government described as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “right-hand man”, and the head of Gazprom Alexei Miller. Also on the list were VTB bank chairman Andrey Kostin, Transneft president Nikolai Tokarev and Bank Rossiya chairman Dmitri Lebedev.

London said the seven have a collective net worth of about £15 billion ($19.7 billion, 17.8 billion euros) and described them all as part of Putin’s inner circle. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of delaying action against wealthy Russians, and turning a blind eye to Russian money that has coursed through London since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

He called the sanctions “the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people” while Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said they showed that “oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy and society”.

• Ukraine Team Defy Heartbreak To Win Bittersweet Paralympic Golds

It was a bittersweet day for Ukraine at the Winter Paralympics with nine medals and a clean sweep of two biathlon events Tuesday — just as one athlete learned her father had been taken prisoner by Russian troops. Despite grappling with heartbreak following Russia’s invasion of their homeland, the yellow and blue team dug deep to net two golds, four silver and three bronze medals on day four in Beijing.

In a show of girl power on international women’s day, Iryna Bui achieved her lifetime dream of Paralympic gold, sharing the podium with team-mates Oleksandra Kononova and Liudmyla Liashenko in the standing middle distance biathlon race.

“We are here to fight for Ukraine, with Ukraine and in the name of Ukraine,” the 26-year-old Bui told reporters. Kononova said that even though she is physically in China competing, mentally she is still back home. All my thoughts, my heart and my soul is with my family and with my child,” the 31-year-old said.

Anastasiia Laletina, 19, pulled out of her biathlon middle distance sitting race on Tuesday morning after receiving bad news from home, Harach said. “Her father is a soldier in the Ukrainian army and (was taken) prisoner by Russian soldiers. They beat him,” Harach said.

• Chelsea Sale On Hold Due To UK Sanctions On Abramovich

Roman Abramovich’s hopes of selling European champions Chelsea were put on hold on Thursday after the UK government hit the Russian billionaire with an assets freeze.

The finance ministry said restrictions “apply to any entities that are owned or controlled by Roman Abramovich”, adding: “This means Chelsea Football Club is now also subject to an asset freeze under UK financial sanctions.”

• Former Super Eagles Player Justice Christopher Dies At 41

Former Super Eagles player, Justice Longs Christopher has died in Jos, North Central Nigeria. The former footballer, who played as a midfielder, according to a family source, was hale and hearty on Tuesday as he attended the usual morning walkout, attended a political rally and had an engagement with friends and close associates at his hotel in Wholshe before retiring for the day.

A cousin to the late player, Manasseh Dashuwa who deposited the corpse at the morgue told newsmen that the former player did not show or exhibit any sign of illness on a fateful day as he was full of life and was his jovial self until he retired to his room for the night. He explained that the scream of the deceased from his room attracted others as the room was locked and was forcefully opened where the former player was found gasping for breath and was rushed to a nearby hospital but gave up the ghost and was confirmed dead by medical personnel.

Besides playing for the Super Eagles, Christopher also played for several club sides in Nigeria and overseas. He played for Katsina United and moved to Sharks FC and to Insurance FC before journeying abroad to Belgium to dorn the jersey of Antwerp FC. He also played for Levski Sofia of Bulgaria, Trelleborg of Sweden as well as Vladikavkaz of Russia before returning home to play for Nasarawa United.

METRO PLUS

• Bamise’s Murder: Court Orders Remand Of BRT Driver For 30 Days

A Magistrate Court at the Yaba area of Lagos has ordered the remand of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Mr. Andrew Nice, over his alleged involvement in the death of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwole. Magistrate Omobola Salawu ordered the remand for 30 days following an application by the Police.

The officer in charge of legal, Yetunde Cardoso, who represented the police had filed the remand application which premised it on four-count of the alleged murder, sexual assault, misconduct, and interference with a corpse. The suspect will be remanded in custody to enable the police conclude their investigations as well as to await the outcome of the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecution.

Outside the court, the counsel to the Ayanwole family, Ayo Ademiluyi condemned what he described as the refusal of the Governor to pay a condolence visit to the grieving family.

• Arrested Lagos BRT driver raped me inside bus, says victim, presents evidence

Nice (Andrew) Omininikoron, the driver of the Bus Rapid Transit vehicle arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a passenger, Oluwabamise Ayankole, has been accused of engaging in illicit acts with another female passenger in Lagos State. The female victim, who spoke exclusively to newsmen, accused Omininikoron of raping her on November 25, 2021. This came amid calls for justice for Oluwabamise, whose corpse was recovered at Ebute Ero, after she was last seen on the BRT bus driven by Omininikoron.

Narrating her ordeal, the lady accused the 47-year-old of raping her on the BRT bus. The former sales girl at a shop in Ajah said after she closed from work around 8pm, she boarded the BRT bus driven by the suspect. The driver was to convey her from the Alesh Bus Stop in Ajah, to Jakande, along the Lekki Epe Expressway, when things took another dimension.

“I saw him using a drug and my thinking was that he parked the bus to use the drug before time ran out. A few minutes later, he started making advances towards me and I saw that his manhood had risen up. I became very uncomfortable and insisted on getting down, but he didn’t open the door. He said he wanted both of us to go and chill and that he wanted to have sex with me, but I declined. Suddenly, he brought out a knife and dragged me to the back seat of the bus. He told me to take off my clothes, but I refused. He threatened to kill me. He tore my gown, forcefully removed the biker short I wore and raped me. I felt sad.”

The victim said she could not call for help because Omininikoron parked the bus at a desolate location, adding that he refused to let her go after allegedly raping her. She added, “He insisted on driving me to my destination at Jakande Bus Stop. When we got to my bus stop, he still didn’t open the door. He demanded my account number and started pleading over what he did. He said he wanted to send money to me to buy painkillers.

“I could not speak out because I was ashamed of what happened and believed I could not get justice. But when his pictures started circulating online regarding the death of the lady (Oluwabamise), I told my friend that I knew him (Omininikoron). After seeing his coloured picture, I went to my bank, requested my statement of account, traced the day he sent me the money, and it was the same name, Omininikoron Nice, which was in the picture circulating.

• Domestic violence: Lagos govt commences publication of sex offenders’ identities

Lagos State Government has commenced the publication of details of sex offenders in the state to serve as deterrence to others. The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, Mrs Titilola Vivour- Adeniyi, who disclosed this during a press conference at the agency’s office on Thursday, added that the measure was also in furtherance of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s zero tolerance to all forms of domestic and sexual violence.

The details according to the Executive Secretary includes; the name and picture of the sex offender, the nature of the offence as well as the duration of the sentence handed down by the court. Vivour-Adeniyi, noted that this was in line with the provisions of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, particularly section 42 which provides that the Agency is to periodically publish details of Sex convicts in the state.

She also said letters of advisory have been issued to local governments and traditional rulers of the communities where the convicts previously resided. “This measure is one amongst many deployed by the state government to end the culture of impunity and also serve as a deterrence to other sex offenders,” she explained.

• We’ll flush out bandits, informants, Tambuwal assures Sokoto residents

The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Wednesday, assures residents across the state that his administration will spare no efforts in flushing out bandits and their informants from the state. This as he also warned marauders and their collaborators to stay clear of the state or face the full wrath of the law once apprehended.

Tambuwal gave the assurance after cutting short an official trip midnight Tuesday to address the reported influx of suspected bandits and their informants into the village of Sabon Garin Liman in Wurno local government area of the state.

A statement by his spokesman, Muhammad Bello, quoted the governor as saying that his administration, with the assistance of security agencies and the Federal Government, will not allow criminals to roll back the gains being made to stem the tide of their nefarious activities. He said the state government was not unaware “of what is happening in this village, where bandits, both from within and outside the country are taking refuge.”

He appealed to the law-abiding people in the community to collaborate with the village head, other leaders, and security agencies in the state; “particularly those deployed around this area so that we can nip this in the bud and reestablish peace here and in the state in general.” He commiserated with the people of the community “on what has been happening around here, especially the recent attacks.”